Seskus: Are we doing enough about mental illness?

The tragic events that un-folded on a lonely Saskatchewan road this week will focus discussion around the mental health of the father, believed to have murdered his wife and son before killing himself.

It's a natural discussion to have since it's difficult to comprehend how someone - as it appears in this case - can take the life of a beloved spouse and child. Family members say Airdrie father Darren Wourms was battling depression.

In some ways, it will seem heartbreakingly reminiscent of the case in Dalhousie four years ago when a 34-year-old architect killed his wife, two of his children and a female tenant before turning to suicide.

We rarely know exactly what triggers such violent acts - and it's critical to remember most people who have a mental illness aren't violent at all.

Such a tragic event would be made even worse if it adds to the stigma that too often surrounds mental health and makes it more difficult for people in need to seek help.

If we are going to be asking questions about mental health this week, Canadians should also take time to ask themselves a hard question: Are we doing enough to help those dealing with mental illness?

It's a critical question because one in five Canadians will be affected by a mental health issue at some point in their lives. Kids have some of the biggest challenges in getting the help they need.

Mental health has been called the orphan of medicare, the last area served and the first one cut.

Experts say there's been progress. Mental health issues are receiving more attention and there is a national discussion going on about how to improve the system.

But there's little doubt we have a mountain of work ahead - and that includes addressing our own prejudices.

The scope of the task was evident this month when the Mental Health Commission of Canada rolled out the nation's first mental health strategy. It calls for an overhaul of a system it says is so fractured and under-funded it's turning prisons and jails into the "asylums of the 21st century."

The strategy includes 109 recommendations and calls for spending on mental health to increase from seven to nine per cent of total health spending over 10 years, an increase of $3 billion to $4 billion.

That's a lot of money at a time when governments are preaching austerity, but the commission calculates the impact of mental illness on Canada's economy is at least $50 billion annually.

"That's the economic side of it," Howard Chodos, a special adviser to the Mental Health Strategy for Canada, said on Wednesday.

"The other side of it is when-ever there are tragedies that occur, it reminds us that mental health is not a trivial issue, that it can have many severe consequences for individuals, for families, for com-munities. And not addressing them means these tragedies are more likely to occur."

Among the recommendations is more screening for mental-health problems and suicide risk. The commission said the majority of the 4,000 Canadians who die from suicide each year were confronting a mental health illness or problem.

Mental health issues have received more attention, said Dr. Lloyd Maybaum, a psychiatrist, but it's the follow through that's really important.

"Although there's a lot more spoken of mental health, I'm just not sure that we're seeing a lot of action," Maybaum said.

"We continue to struggle with long wait lists on outpatient re-sources, which . . . by (and) large are unchanged over the last number of years despite the apparent high profile of mental health."

Last summer, the provincial government unveiled a five-year strategy to reduce addiction and mental illness.

Maybaum said that's a good thing, but there's a lot of work to be done and he's watching to see what action is taken.

At the legislature Wednesday, Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne said the government put additional funds into mental health in the last provincial bud-get.

"The best thing we can do, in my opinion, is we can make these services available in the com-munity," Horne said. "And that increases the likelihood that a friend or a relative or a neighbour who detects an issue may be able to connect their family member with some supports close to home."

The question of whether enough is being done to address mental illness isn't simply one for politicians and health care officials.

It's for all of us.

One of the big issues surrounding mental health continues to be one of stigma.

Too often, people feel ashamed to acknowledge they have a mental illness. People joke about it. As a research field, it can struggle to find benefactors.

We must leave these prejudices behind and move forward be-cause people - our parents, children and loved ones - should never feel they can't seek help.

"Fighting stigma is something that everybody can do," Chodos said. "We've learned to challenge (prejudicial attitudes) with respect to racial prejudice, with respect to homophobia. We need to adopt a very similar approach to mental health."

Who to call for help

If you have concerns about your own mental health or a loved one's, there are people who want to help.

"Please reach out," said Ruby Lecot with the Canadian Mental Health Association.

- People can also call the Distress Centre's 24-hour line at 403-266-4357. The non-profit agency delivers support, counselling and resource referral to Calgary and area.

tseskus@calgaryherald.com

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